Founders talk about inspiration, preserving Chinese culture, creating conversations
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Reunion dinners, ang pow packets, firecrackers and the multiple lousang(s), beyond its mysticism and loud festivities, Chinese New Year (CNY) is a communal holiday that cherishes togetherness and prosperity – in health and wealth.
Educating the masses one art installation at a time, Kwai Chai Hong (KCH) has become a cultural port, where Malaysians and tourists alike can glimpse into the vibrant Chinese culture and learn its nuances.
This year, it celebrates CNY by showcasing a more intimate part of the culture, Cloth Tiger – a handmade toy by parents or grandparents, gifted to children as a form of protection and love.
theSun had a little chat with its founders Zeen Chang and Javier Chor (KCH artist) to understand the motives behind its Guardians of Legacy installation, which took six months to complete with its conception happening before the end of its Mid-Autumn installation.
Behind Guardians of Legacy
How did you get the idea for the theme?
Chor: The inspiration comes from the traditional folk art of the Cloth Tiger. What’s special about them is that no two were ever the same, each was sewn with different patterns, colours and intentions, shaped by a parent’s hopes for their child, whether for peace, courage, health, wellbeing or protection.
Was there a specific moment or inspiration that sparked this particular theme?
Chor: It started purely as a fascination and admiration for the beauty of the Cloth Tiger. The more I learn about this folk art, the more respect and appreciation I have for its heritage and purpose. Over time, Cloth Tigers evolved into different cloth animals that represented the zodiac of each child, becoming a representation of a lifelong guardian. The theme, Guardians of Legacy, grew from this belief, that love and protection are expressed through thoughtful, intentional gestures, crafted uniquely for the ones they are meant to watch over.
How did you decide which elements of the Cloth Tiger tradition to emphasise?
Chor: We focused on the idea that no two Cloth Tigers were ever the same. Each was created with intention and care, shaped by the maker’s wishes, whether for peace, courage, health, protection or wellbeing. That sense of individuality and thoughtful protection became central to the installation and naturally led us to reinterpret the tradition through the Chinese zodiac. For example, if a child cried often, the Cloth Tiger might be sewn with a flower, symbolising happiness like a blooming flower and a blessing for joy in daily life.
The zodiac signs are normally harbinger of fortune and loss. Your theme reframes them as nurtures and protectors. What motivated that choice?
Chor: We viewed it as a natural extension of the Cloth Tiger tradition. Just as Cloth Tigers were created to protect children, the zodiacs can be seen as guardians that accompany us through different stages of life. Reframing the zodiacs this way allowed us to highlight care, continuity and emotional protection rather than luck alone.
Preserving and nurturing the Chinese culture
Through this installation that you do every year, how do you hope to preserve and nurture the Chinese culture?
Chor: Our approach is always centred on making heritage accessible and meaningful to a wide range of audiences, regardless of background or age. We believe art is a powerful bridge. It is subjective, open to interpretation and allows people to connect with culture in their own personal way. That creative openness gives us the space to weave traditional elements into contemporary art forms that resonate with today’s audiences. At KCH, innovation is not about replacing tradition but about representing it.
You have always highlighted unique and lesser-known cultural symbolism in the Chinese culture. Is that a deliberate choice?
Chang: Yes, it is deliberate. We begin by identifying universal values embedded in folk traditions, values that remain relevant today and expressing them through contemporary art forms. For Guardians of Legacy, the emphasis is on love expressed through care and how protection is often quiet, gentle and enduring rather than forceful or heroic. Ultimately, our goal is not just to retell folklore but to create experiences that allow visitors to connect personally with these values and carry them forward in their own lives.
Beyond the visual experience, what conversations do you hope this sparks?
Chor: We hope it sparks conversations that are introspective and emotionally driven, centring on protection, care and devotion, which are deeply familiar yet often unspoken. In that sense, it represents a maturing of our storytelling – one that invites reflection, personal connection and intergenerational appreciation, while staying rooted in heritage and expressed through contemporary art.
Do you hope by portraying niche aspects of CNY and the Chinese culture every year rewrites the narrative?
Chang: Rather than rewriting the narrative, we seek to deepen the understanding and then the appreciation of Chinese culture. By focusing on niche yet meaningful aspects of Chinese culture, we aim to remind people that tradition is not static, it evolves through reflection, reinterpretation and lived experience. Each year is an opportunity to explore culture from a different emotional or philosophical angle.
If visitors can take away one thing from this year’s installation, what do you hope it to be?
Chang: We hope to remind visitors that love is often expressed in quiet, everyday ways. Through care, protection and sacrifice rather than words. The installation reflects the bonds we share across generations, from parents protecting their children to children learning to return that same care to their elders. As people walk through the installation, we hope it encourages them to pause, reflect and appreciate the small but meaningful acts of love that often go unnoticed, yet shape our families and lives over time.
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Corbyn Besson’s musical journey
The Sun Malaysia
